Warwick Vase

The Warwick Vase takes it name after the 2nd Earl of Warwick who acquired it as an ancient relic from his uncle, Sir William Hamilton in around 1775.

In 1813 the Earl of Warwick agreed to allow the London silversmiths Messrs Rundell, Bridge & Rundell to make a replica of the Warwick Vase in silver, but the project failed due to its size, difficulty and potential high cost.

A few years later, the wax model and casts were used to produce a replica in bronze instead, which was cast by the founder Charles Crozatier in France. Commissioned by Messrs Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, Crozatier made two bronze replicas of the vase, one of which is this one in the Royal Collection.

"The Warwick Vase is thought to have been made by Greeks employed by Hadrian in Rome in the 2nd century AD. Fragments of the marble vase were found in 1770 by the Scottish painter Gavin Hamilton (1723-98) in the lake of Pantanello near Tivoli.

The fragments were acquired by the famous collector Sir William Hamilton who arranged for its restoration and attempted to sell it to the British Museum. However it was eventually acquired by his nephew, George Granville, Earl of Warwick, and it was transferred to Warwick castle in 1774 where it remained for over two hundred years.

In 1977 it was acquired for the Burrell Collection and is now in the possession of the City of Glasgow Museum and Art Galleries."

Courtesy: Dictionary of Blue & White Printed Pottery 1780-1880; Coysh & Henrywood

See Wikipedia article on the Warwick Vase

A number of potters produced patterns based on the Warwick Vase

a) Enoch Wood & Sons probably produced the first pattern based on a view with the Warwick Vase - "A pattern with a castle in the background, a lake with a boat and a prominent 'Warwick Vase' on a rectangular platform, The border is of scrolled vignettes, each with a vase" Coysh & Henrywood.

b) Edgerton & Co - Coysh & Henrywood note a Warwick Vase pattern with the initials E & Co as "maker unknown (possible and Elkin partnership)" however this is probably the mark of Edgerton & Co. This pattern is almost identical to that produced by Enoch Wood & Sons with the border rotated by 25^o.

c) Elkin & Newbon - a design very similar to a) and b) above - there are variations and the engraving is simpler but sharper.

d) J & M P Bell & Co - the Glasgow based potter produced a view which was different to the North Staffordshire potters above. The view is of a pond surrounded by trees, a pergola, with a woman playing an instrument. The Warwick Vase is to the right of the view.

e) Copeland & Garrett - around 1834 they produced an altogether different pattern with a central detailed engraving of the Warwick Vase within a wide border of acanthus scrolls.

f) W. T. Copeland continued the design originated by Copeland & Garrett, also they produced a small model of the Warwick vase.

g) Spode - post 1970 Spode reissued the Warwick Vase design as part of their 'Blue Room' collection.

Warwick Vase pattern plate by Edgerton & Co

- more on Edgerton & Co -

Warwick
Vase
E & Co

Coysh & Henrywood note a Warwick Vase pattern with the initials E & Co as "maker unknown (possible and Elkin partnership)" however this is probably the mark of Edgerton & Co

W. T. Copeland - the successor to Copeland & Garrett, continued
to produce the Warwick Vase pattern

- more on W. T. Copeland -

Copeland

impressed & printed

this style of mark was used from 1847 to around 1890

As well as producing the printed Warwick Vase pattern Copeland produced a small model of the Warwick vase.

The vase, painted in various shades of blue, is 4.25" tall, 6" in width at the handles. Having twin interlocking vine and acanthus moulded handles, the main body with an asymmetrical band of grotesque Bacchus masks and suspended grapes, upon a beaded pedestal support, on square base, printed mark reads 'Copeland, England, Spode's Florentine'.

the Warwick Vase pattern was reissued by Spode post 1970

- more on Spode -

The Spode Blue Room Collection

"Warwick Vase"
first introduced
c. 1834

Underglaze print from a hand
engraved copper plate

Spode
made in
England